Selective-control mechanism for printing machines



June 115 1926. 1,589,021

J. F. STURROCK SELECTIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed July 31. 1924 4'ShetS -Sh'eb l INVENTOR JAM E5 E STURR K ATTORNEY June 15, 1926. 1,589,021

J. F. STURROCK SELECTIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed July 31. 1924 451 9 1 151 5 2 INVENTOR JAM ES E STURROCK.

ATTORNEY June 15 192%.

J. F. STURROCK SELECTIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed July 51, 1924 4 shet slsh'gt 5 BOD; .ISET

BOFQDER SET BODY S ET BODY SET INVENTOR 29'- JAMES E 'STURROCK.

BOQDEQ SET ATTORNEY J. F. STU RROCK SELECTIVE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES June 15, 1926.

Filed July 31, 1924 4'sh t Lsh' t 4 INVENTOR hwy/111m ATTORNEY is a simple. repeating design,

Patented June 15, 1926.

iP AT I I 1,589,021 ENT- OFFICE.

JAMES F. STURROCK, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 CONGOLEUM- NAIRN (INQ), OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

sEiEc'rIvE-coNTRoL mzs'cmmsm r03 rnmzr ne MACHINES.

' Application filed July 31,

My present invention is primarily designed for and is shown as embodied in a Hat bed printing machine, in which a set of platens carry printingblocks which impress a design on a base material such as linoleum, oil cloth, or impregnated felt which is. fed, step by step, beneath the successive printing platens. Where the pat-' tern is in more than one color, it is common' to have successive platens of the same set each print with a different color'upon the same area orlength of. the base material, the length of each said area being equal to the length of one step of the intermittent feed of the base material. VVhereth-e design only one set of platens is necessary and there are nocom- '-plications, but where the design varies lengthwise ofthe-basematerial as, for instance, in printing rugs with border designs, there must be at least two sets of the printing platens, one set for the body and side border areas, which may be repeated as many times as desired, and another set which will print a different design, represented by the two end borders of two adjacent'rugs. For simplicity, only two sets of printing platens are assumed, one for a repeating body design which may be repeated as many times as required for the lengthof the rug,-and another set for the end joint and cross-borders between rug patterns.

Where two sets of printing platens are used, it is necesary to have the repeat pat.- terns for the body portion of the rug repeated the number of times required for a desired length of rug, and to have each platen'of the set thrown out so as not.to print when the space required fora ,crossborder comes under it. 'Corelatively, the cross-border set of platens must be controlled so that they will print successively a single stroke upon the cross-border space left vacant by the body printing set when said s ace re isters under said latenand' after No,

1924. Serial No. 729,203.

number of strokes, it will be leave a blank space for the border printing set to print upon. Thus for a three repeat, the body printing platen N o. 1 will print on three successive feeds and will throw out one feed. No. 2, operating 1, by an 'intervalassumed tojbe one feed step, will print three successive times on the spaces printed by No. 1 and will throw out when a blank space reaches it. imilarly, Nos. 3 and 4, operating respec tively two and three intervals or feed steps after No. 1, will each printthree times and. will throw out when a blank space reaches them. Next, the material will be under No.- 1 platen of the cross-border set, which must throw into operate one stroke at that time and then throw out whilethree body printed sections pass under. it. Next, the crossborder partly printed by platen No. 1 of the border printing set will pass under platen No. 2 of the border printing set, which will then print one stroke and throw out three strokes. On the next feeds, platens Nos. 3 and 4 of the border printing set will each print once and then throw out three.

In machines. of this type the printing strokes ofthe platens are by gravity regulated by rotary cams upon which the platens rest, and there are swingingfdetent hooks which are thrown into support the weight predetermined thrown out to of theprinting platens and prevent a print- -means for rendering the detent hooks operative or inoperative, at the end of a prede-., termined number of steps. In other words,

ion

my improvedselector mechanism servesas a t mer for rendering the detent hook operabeen active 'or'inactive ber of strokes.

An important feature is means whereby the successivesplatens can have their detent intervals set Sothatthey will print and for the. desired numtive or inoperative after the platens have throw out in proper phase relation as required by the design; and also may be so set for a difierentnumber of repeats for the body-printing set of platens, to make longer or shorter rugs of the same pattern.

The invention may be better understood from the following description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein-@- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side'elevation of a printing machine equipped with my selector mechanism Fig. 2 is a sectional detail on the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the selector mechanism and its associated parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

f Fig. 5 is a plan view of the selector ratchet.

Figs. '6 and 7 are diagrammatic views SllOWlIlg the relative positions of the ratchet wheels, cams and cover plates when the selector mechanisms are set for three repeats and seven repeats respectively where there is but one feed step between repeats.

Fig. '8 is a diagram like Fig. 7, but indicating the spacing and phase adjustments wherethere are two feed steps between repeats.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view supplemental to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, indicating that 'a plurality of the platens and control mechanism of Figs. 1 to 4 are used in combination with a step by step feed mechanism.

The printing machine includes side frame members 10, 10, the upper of which mounts a guideway 11 for a vertically reciprocating slide 12 suporting one end of aprinting platen -13 which carries printing blocks 14 of suitable pattern. The opposite end of the platen '13,is similarly supported by a similar cross head and any appropriate number of like platens may be arranged side by side or at distances apart determined by the length of step of the intermittent feed of the linoleum or other material to be printed upon. The feeding mechanism for the material, the means for inking the platens and other such conventional details have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

The lower frame members 10 provide bearings for the ends of a cam shaft 15, mounting cams 16 engaging with rollers 17 at the lower ends of the slides 12 to effect vertical reciprocation of the platens. Detent hooks 18 are movable into position to block the downward movement of the slides 12 and consequently to selectively render any'pf the platens inactive in spite of the continuous rotation of their lifting cams 16.

The machine as thus far described may be of any known or desired construction usable for such purposes, and the present inventlon relates more specifically to meansactu' ated from the cam shaft 15 and selectively controlling the positions of the detent hooks 18. Such mechanism may conveniently include a counterweight 19 normally tending to hold the detent out of the path of the slide, and a lever 20 carrying the detent and adapted to be moved by link 21 to swing the detent into latching position against the action of the counterweight. actuated by a rocking lever 22 controlled by a retracting cam 23 rotated by the ratchet wheel 24 which is intermittently driven from the cam shaft 15. It will thus be seen that if cam 23 is provided with a single projection, it will operate through the lever 22, link 21 and lever 20 to swing a detent to locking position once every rotation of the cam and ratchet wheel. If, however, the cam is designed so that it has a depression instead of a projection, the mechanism will serve to normally look the platen against movement to printing position and will permit such movement only once per revolution of the cam and ratchet. In order to properly predetermine and control the movement of the platen, I employ a variable feed mechanism for the ratchet wheel. This mechanism serves to rotate the ratchet wheel, one step for every feed operation of the machine and by varying the number of steps necessary to complete a revolution the number of successive repeats during such revolution may be selectively predetermined.

The ratchet wheel 24 and cam 23 are preferably rigid'with a common hub 25 which turns upon a stub shaft 26. projecting laterally from a supplemental frame member 27 secured in any appropriate manner (not shown) to the lower frame member 10. This frame member also mounts a depending bracket 28 to which the lower end of the rocking lever 22 is pivoted as at 29, said lever being pivotally connected at 30 to the link 21 and carrying intermediate its ends a roller 32 which is held against the cam 23 The link 7 is by the counterweight 19. A pivotal conncc- I tion such as that indicated at 33 serves for the connection of the link 21 and the lever 20 carrying the detent hook. For efiecting step by step movement of the ratchet wheel, I emplo an arm 35. integral with a sleeve 36 whic oscillates on the common hub '26 of the cam and ratchet wheel. The arm-35 carries a pawl 37 at its free end for engaging with the teeth or notches in the periphcry of the ratchet wheel and is oscillated through an arc of approximately 90 degrees by a connecting rod 38 driven from a disk 39 fixed to the cam shaft 15.

In machines of this character the time allowed for the introduction of the hooks which hold up the printing platens is momentary and 1t. is found expedient to have the cams working a little in advance of the engagement; or release of the hooks and Ill 'tion 52 of the pull bar may be utilized for effecting a sliding adjustment of the end, of the rocking lever on the pull bar to finely time the movement of the pull bar relative to the movement of the printing cam 16.

. The ratchet'wheel is equipped with a plurality of sets of teeth, the teeth of the several sets being spaced different equi-distances from-each otherabout the periphery of the ratchet. In the case assumed, that is, when the machine is adapted for printing anywhere from three to nine repeats of the body of the ru there will be four teeth 90 degrees apart, ve teeth 72 degrees apart, six teeth degrees apart, ten teeth 36 degrees apart, etc. With the form of device shown, the reciprocatory'rocking movement of the pawl carrying crank is through a distance at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the greatest distance between the teeth of the mostwidely spaced set of the ratchet wheel, namely a rocking movement of slightly more than 90 degrees.

Some of the teeth int-he diflerent sets may be identical as, for instance, set will utilize all of the teeth of the four step series and will require only four ad- 'ditional teeth, one midway between each of the teeth of the four tooth set.

The tooth set numbering of the Figure 5,

wherein the numerals for sets correspond to the number of teeth in its set, indicates clearly that various teeth are common to a number of sets andthe zero notch is common to all sets. Y

It will be noted that the cams of-each ratchet wheel bear a similar relation to the zero notch of such wheel and that by proper angular adjustment of the zero notches relative to each other,'.the cams'of a printing set will be properly adjusted. It may thus be found expedient to display some readily visible indication which will facilitate the rapid identification of the zero notch 'of each wheel and consequently expedite changing a setting.

The ratchet pawl reciprocating at all times through-an arc of 90 degrees, one rerepeats and one throw-out for the, platen.

In order to adjust this mechanism so that the pawl will act on any of the series of teeth, I provide a cover plate 40 turning freely on the stud shaft 26 and carrying an .r=arcuate lip 41 which extends over and conceals approximately one-fourth of the pe-.

the eight step riphery of the ratchet wheel. This cover plate is adjusted to cover a desired extent of the initial portion of the stroke of the feeding pawl which will thus ride up on the cover and slide idly for an desired portion ofnits feeding stroke. For l o in any adjusted position I employ a locking plate 42 keyed upon the shaft 26 and having a series of notches 43 in its edge which may be selectively engaged by a locking handle 44. Handle 44 serves to lock the cover plate against. movement of its shaft and also affords means for manually turning the plate to change the adjustment thereof. A cross bar 45 fixed to the end of the stud shaft 26barries a pair of inwardly presented studs 46. Springs 47 encircling the studs exert pressure on the lockingplate 42-and tend to urge the cover plate fiat" against the face of the ratchet wheel. The cover plate thus serves as a brake effectively damping the movement of the ratchet wheel under the impetus of its actuating pawl. Furthermore, such braking action overcomes the tendency of hub'25 to 'turn with the bearing sleeve 36 of the arm 35.,

For' purposes of illustration, I have diagrammatically shown the sets of cams for the body printing mechanism and the border repeats. In Fig. 7, they areshown as set for printing a rug in four colors with a body length of seven repeats. In setting for three repeats, the first ratchet wheel will be rotated until its zero tooth is in the position cking the cover. 1

indicated in Fig. 4. The cover plate is then adjusted until its front edge just exposes the next or 4 tooth of the series in question.

As the operation of the machine is started, the pawl passing forward over the "cover plate will drop into the first-tooth expiised and only the remainder of the stroke will be operative as a feed stroke for the ratchet wheel. By settin the cover plate, the ratchet may be ren ered operative only for the desired fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh or tenth ortion of a revolution, but said portion of a revolution, whatever it is, will bring the next tooth of that particular series into position where it will be just uncovered by the front edge of the cover plate and will be engaged by the ratchet on its next forward stroke.

In setting the next ratchet wheel of the series, for a three repeat rug, it must be borne in mind that it is not merely necessary for the pawl to work in the series .of

four teeth but also that the cams associated with the two ratchet wheels bear-aproper angular relationship to each other so that the successive platens will be successively held out to permit the passage of an miprint-ed border portion thereunder. In Fig. 6, I have indicated the proper relations of the successive cams when the machineis ready to print a three repeat rug with only one feed step between repeats. It will-be noted that the successive cams are at angles of 90 dgerees apart and that the teeth just exposed by the edges of the series of cover plates are 4, 0, 4, 4", respectively. For two feed steps between repeats, the successive cams must be set 180 degrees apart, that is, two steps 01' teeth instead of one. The desired number of 'repeats and throw-outs and the timing thereof for the first set of platens being thus adjustably controlled, the corelative timing of the second set of border printing platens may be predetermined by precisely similar mechanism except that the throw-out cam 23 of the latter is corelative to the body printing cams 23. That is to say, the detent portion'of ,the cam extends around all of the circumferencewhere the cam 23 has a depression and has a depression where the cam 23 has a projection.

\Vith the cams set as indicated at Fig. 6, it Will be evident that as a rug is fed through the machine the first platen will print its color three successive times and then remain inactive to permit the passage of a border space thereunder. The other body printing platens will be similarly controlled and timed to remain inactive as the border space passes under them. The set of border printing platens on the other hand remain inactive while the three printed repeats of the body portion of the rug pass beneath them and operate successively upon the space left blank for a border.

In changing the adjustment of the machine so that it will print a rug having the same pattern but having a considerably longer body portion as, for instance, seven repeats instead of three, the ratchet wheels are set to the position indicated in the Fig. 7 so that the 8 tooth of the first ratchet will be just exposed by the cover plate. It will be noted that with this adj ustment the cover plates for the ratchets render the first half of the feed stroke of the pawl inoperative so that the step by step movement of the ratchet requires eight reciprocations of the pawl to effect a complete revolution. In other words, the body printing platens will print on seven strokes and remain inactive on the eighth while the reverse is true of the border printing platens. Attention is called to the fact that while simply shiftin the cover plates from the position of Fig. will suflice for properly changing the adjustment of the ratchets, it will not put the throw-outs of successive platens in pro er relation of succession or phase. This is ecause the cams for printing a seven repeat rug must be arranged at successively varying angles of 45 degrees instead of.;90 degrees. Thus, the setting of the ratchet wheels involves not only the shifting of the cover plates, butalso manual over-running of the ratchet wheels to move the cams into proper corelative relationship. In each in stance, one of the teeth of the eighth series will be just exposed by the forward edge of the cover plate but the zero teeth of the various wheels, and consequently the cams, must followeach other at intervals at 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees in the case of the set up for the three repeat rugs. In other words, for a seven repeat rug the cover plates are disposed in a common position but the teeth exposed by the cover plate edges must be 8, 0, 8 8, respectively, and such adjustment when changing from a, set up for three repeats necessarily involves 'overrunning the ratchets as well as shifting the covers. The manner of changing the set up for printing four, five, six and nine repeat rugs will be apparent.

The showing of four platens in connection with the body printing mechanism and the border mechanism is entirely arbitrary since thc number of platens of each set depends entirely upon the number of colors in which the rug is to be printed and has nothing whatever to do with the number of repeats. As a matter of fact, the mechanism illustrated might be readily adapted for printing in one, two or three colors since one, two or three platens of each set could be rendered continuously inactive'by shifting the cover plate of their respective ratchet wheels to such a position that the feed stroke of the pawls would be entirely idle and the pawls would slide on the cover plate instead of turning the ratchet wheels. If, on the other hand, one of the platens carried a design which was common to both body repeats and border, such platen could be rendered continuously active by similar adjustment of the cover plate but with the cam 23 in its hold out position of Fig. 4.

A It will be evident from the foregoing description of the adjusting means that almost any desired range of repeats and throw-outs may be obtained by suitably designed cams and ratchet wheels subject only to practical limitations such as the sizes of the cams and ratchet wheels which would be required if too great a selective range were attempted. The selective range illustrated is adequate for all practical purposes permitting the printing of rugs from three to nine repeats except for the omission of the eight repeat which is considered a non-standard size.

The control mechanism is adaptable for single step feed between platens or for spacing and two, three or more step feeds between platens. The only difference is that the two or more step spaclng requires over-running of more of the teeth of the successive ratchets, so that the cams instead of being each one step behind the other, are two, three or more steps behind, as the case may be.. It will be understood that 'inactual commercial ractice the platens are spaced at interva s of two feed steps,

the platens for the color boxes of each, which must pass under the plates toink them between each printing stroke thereof, and must be out of the way when the printing stroke occurs. To illustrate, I have shown in Fig. 8, a diagram for a body printing set of four platens adjusted for seven repeats and one throw-out, with two feed steps between the platens. It will be evident that the only difference between the adjustment for the one step feed as shown in Fig. 7 and the two step adjustment shown in Fig. 8 is that in Fig.8 the successive cams are each two teeth or a .90 degree angle behind the proceding 2o cam, whereas, in Fig. 7 they are each only one tooth or 45 degrees behind the preceding cam.

All of the above diagrams showing phase relations of the feed mechanism presuppose a plurality of the units shown in Fig. 1, in-

cluding a succession of the platens 14. This fact is illustrated in Fig. 9, where a succession of units like Fig; 1, are schematically indicated as associated with feed mechanism so commonly-employed in this way, as for instance, the belts 60, having pins 61 engaging the edges of the oil'cloth and other fabric, these being given the required step by step intermittent feed by any suitable mechanism,

conventionally indicated as including a pawl 62, engaging aratchet wheel 63, the ratchet being rigid withthe carrier drum of the pinbelt and the pawl rigid with a gear 64, en-

gaged by a rack 65, reciprocated through a link 66, by suitably driven crank-disc 67.

While the invention possesses certain features of particular advantage in connection with controllin the platen operation of oil cloth, saturated felt and linoleum printing it may have a more machines and the like,

extendedapplication to the control of various types of intermittently operating or repeating stroke mechanisms, particularly machinesfor stamping, embossing, perforating, cutting, etc., materials of various kinds for various purposes. Certain of the novel combinations of coacting elements form meclgam i:, a1 movements of even Wider applicabi ity. Iclaim: i

l. A machine for printing upon sheets of linoleum, oil cloth, impregnated felt, and ,the like, including means for feeding lengths of the material, a set of cessively to print a varicolored design on set of platens operating successively to print 7 another varicolored design on other selected lengths of said material, throw-out mechanisms associated with eachplaten' of said 6 first 'set'and automatically operable to sucso as to allow spaces between platens operating sucselected lengths of said material, another upon by said first printing platens in ini controlling means for operating each of the I throw-outs, each said controlling means including an intermittently rotated member operable to actuate the throw-out mechanism a predetermined number of steps per throw-out operation "and having an element associated therewith shiftable to different positions to predetermine the speed of the rotated member and thereby to vary the number and timin of repeats printed by one of the sets of p atens and the corelative number and timing of inoperative periods of the other set of platens whereby patterns of varying lengths but having the same designs may be selectively printed.

2.. A machine for printing upon sheets of linoleum, oil cloth, impregnated felt, and the like, including means for feeding lengths of the material, a set of platens operating suc-v cessively to print a varicolored design on selected lengths of said material, another set of platens operating successively to print another varicolored design on other selected lengths of said material, throw-out mecha-,

der of blank lengths to be printed by said second set of platens, other throw-out mechanism associated with each platen of said second set automatically holding said platens of the second set inactive during the passage. thereunder of lengths of the material that have been printed upon by said first set and permitting successive operation of said platens of the second set on thelengths unprinted by said first set; and automatic controlling means for shifting all of-the throwouts, including periodically rotated members operable to actuate the throw-outs a predetermined number of steps per throw-out operation, and. means associated therewith adjustable to different positions to predetermine the speed of the rotated members and thereby to vary the number and timing of repeatsprinted by one of the sets of platens and the corelative number and timing of inoperative periods of the other set of platens whereby patterns of varying lengths but having the' same design may be selectively printed. v

3. A machine for printing upon shee s of linoleum, oil cloth, impregnated felt and the like, including a set of platens operating successively to print a multi-colored body design on a sheet, another set of platens operating successively to print a multi-colored border design on said sheet, detents associated with the body printingplatens and automatically operable to successively retain such printing platens in inactive position during the passage thereunder of a blank border space, other detents associated with the border printing platens automatically holding said platensinactive during the passage of a printed body portion thereunder and permitting successive operation of the border platens on the border spaces; and

automatic controlling means for shifting all of the detents,'including rotatable members operable to shift the detents on every revolution and means, adjustable to vary the speed of the rotatable members and consequently the number of repeats printed upon the body portion and the number of inoperative periods of the other set of platens whereby patterns of varying lengths and having the same design may be selectively printed.

4. A machine for performing different single stroke operations on successive len ths of materials, including means for feeding lengths of said material, a set of single stroke devices operating successively to perform different operations on the same selected lengths of said material, another set of single stroke devices operating successively to perform another set of different operations on other selected lengths of said ma-,

terial, throw-out mechanism associated with each single stroke device of said first set and automatically operable to successively retain such device in inactive position during the passing thereunder of blank lengths to be operated upon by said second set of devices, other throw-out mechanism associated With each single stroke device of said second set, automatically holding said devices or the second set inactiveduring the passage thereunder of lengths of the material that have been operated upon'by said first set and to permit operation thereof on the lengths unoperated upon by said first set; and automatic controlling means for shifting all of the throw-outs, said controlling means including step b step rotated members controlling the t row-outs and devices associated therewith, adjustable to different posi tions to vary the lengths of the steps and consequently the number and timing of repeats by one of the sets of single stroke devices and the corelative number of timing of inopera-- tive periods of the other set whereby re peating operations on a varying number of the lengths of the material may be selectively performed.

5. A machine for performing difi'erent single stroke operations on successive lengths of material, including means for feeding lengths of said material, a single stroke device operating to perform the operation on selected lengths of said material, another single stroke device operating to perform a different operation on other selected lengths of said material, throw-out mechanism associated with the first single stroke device antomatically operable to retain such device in inactive position during the passing thereunder of blank lengths to be operated upon by said second device, other throw-out mechanism associated with the second single stroke device, automatically holding said device inactive during the passage thereunder of lengths of the material that have been operated upon by said first device and to permit operation thereof on the lengths unoperated upon by said first device; an automatic controlling means for shifting the throw-outs, said controlling means including a rotatable element moved step by step and a device associated therewith, adjustable to different positions to predetermine the distance which said element is moved at each step and consequently vary the number and timing of repeats by one of the single stroke devices and the corelative number and timing of inoperative periods of the other device whereby repeating operations on avarying number of the lengths of the material may be selectively performed.

6. A machine for printing upon sheets of linoleum, impregnated felt and the like including a plat-en operating to print a body design on a sheet, another platen operating to print a border design on said sheet, detents associated with the body printing platen and automatically operable to retain such platen in inactive position during the passage thereunder of a blank border space,

other detents associated with the border printing platen automatically holding said platen inactive 7 during the passage of a printed body portion thereunder and permitting operation of the border platen on the border space and automatic controlling means for shifting the detent-s of both platens, ing member, and a member adjustable to vary the speed of the rotatable member and consequently the number of repeats successively printed upon the body portion by the body platen and the number of corelative inoperative periods of the other platen whereby similar patterns of varying body lengths may be selectively printed.

7. A printing machine, including a bed, a platen, means for intermittently feedin material to be printed upon under the platen, platen operating means working in synchronism with the material feed, a detent selectively operable to hold the platen against operation and means controlled by the platen including a rotatable detent shift- 4 operating means and including a rotatable element operative toshift the detent a predetermined-number of steps for each releasing operation and-means for varying the speed of the rotatable element relative to the platen operating ineans. v

8. A printing machine, including a bed, a platen, means for intermittently feeding material to be printed upon under theplaten,

platen-operating means workingin synchrotive connections between the ratchet wheel the successive teeth of any permit selective timing of the detent shiftsaid ratchet wheel including and detent. Y

9. A printing machine, including ab-edfa platen, means for intermittently feeding material to be printed upon under the platen,

platen operating means working in synchronism with the material feed, a deten'tselectively operable to hold the platen against operation, means for rendering the detent operativeafter the platen has printed any desired number of repeats, said means comprising a r'atchet wheel operable to shift the detent a predetermined number of times per revolution, means for varying the speed of the ratchet wheel relative to the speed of the feed and printing mechanism and operative connections between the ratchet wheel and detent, said connections including a cam driven by the ratchet and-detent shifting means actuated by the cam.

10. A printing machine, including a bed, a platen, means for intermittently feeding material to be printed upon under the platen, platen operating means working in'synchronism with the material feed. a detent selectively operable to hold the platen againt operationand means for rendering the detent operative after the platen has,

i printed any desired-number of repeats, said means including a ratchet wheel operable to shift the detent a predetermined number of times per revolution, means for varying the speed of the ratchet wheel relative 'to the speed of the feed and printing mechanism and I operative connections ratchet wheel and detent, said connections including a cam driven by the ratchet and detent shifting means actuated by the cam,

a plurality of sets of teeth. the. teethof the respectivexsets being spaced different distances apart, and b adriving pawl. selectively engageable with set whereby to ing means.

predetermined number of times per between the. r

per revolution, means for varying the speed of the ratchet wheel relative to the speed of the feeding and printing mechanism and operative connections between the ratchet wheel and detent, and means for driving the ratchet wheel from the platen operating means. a

12. A printing machine. including a bed, a platen, means for intermittently feeding. material to be printed upon under the platen, platen operating means working in synchronism with the material feed, a detent selectively operable to hold the platen against, operation, means for rendering the detent operative after the platen has printed any desired number of repeats, said means comprising a ratchet wheel operable to shift the detent a predetermined number of times per revolution, means for varying the speed of the ratchet wheel rela tive to the speed of the feeding and printing mechanism and opera-tive connections between the ratchet wheel and detent, said speed varying means including reciprocaa tory" rocking member carrying a driving pawl and means for varying the effective length of thefeed stroke of the pawl. 13. A printing machine, including. a bed, a set of body pattern printing platens each bearing a-portion of a design and successivelyoperable upon material passed thereunder, "a set of border printing platens successively operable for printing different portions of a border design on said material,

detent continuously operating driving means for a border space and vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven by the platen operating means an adjustable device for predetermining the speed of the ratchet wheel and detent shifting means operated by the ratchet.

14. A printing machine, including a bed, a set of body pattern printing platens each ly operable upon material passed thereunder a set of border'printing platens successively operable for printing different portions of a,b0rder design on said material, continu-' caring a portion of adesign and successivemovement whereby to predetermine the number and timing of the printing or nonprinting operations of the platens.

15. A printing machine, including a bed, a set of body pattern printing platens each bearing a portion of a design and successively operable upon material passed-thereunder, a set of border printing platens successively operable for printing different portions of a border design on said material,

continuously operating driving means for the platens synchronized with the intermittent feed of the material, detents selectively engageable with the platens to hold them inactive, and means for timing the opera tion of the detents to prevent body printing on a border space and vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven by the platen operating means, detent shifting means driven by the ratchet, and means for varying the distance which the ratchet is turned at each feeding movement whereby to predetermine the number and timing of the printing or non-printing operations of the platens, the intermittent feed for the ratchet including an oscillating pawl and means for varying the effective length of the feed stroke of the pawl.

16. A printing machine, including a bed, a set of body pattern printing platens each bearing a portion of a design and successively operable upon material passed thereunder,

a set of border printingplatens successively operable for printing different portions of a border design on said material, continuously operating driving means for the platens synchronized with the intermittent feed of the material, detents selectively engageable with the platens to hold them inactive, and means for timing the operation of the detents to prevent body printing on a border space and vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven" by the platen operating means, detent shifting means driven by the ratchet, and means for varying the distance which the ratchet is turned at each feeding movement whereby to predetermine the num-- her and timing of the printing or nonprinting operations of the platens, the intermittent feed for the ratchet, including a pawl, and an adjustable cover plate for the ratchet material, detents selectively engageable with I the platens to hold them inactive, and means for timing the operation of the detents to prevent body printing on a border space and vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven by the platen operating means, de-

tent shifting means driven by the ratchet, and means for varying the distance which the ratchet is turned at each feeding movement whereby to predetermine the number and timing of the printing or nonprinting operations of the platens, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of series of teeth in its periphery, one tooth being common to all of the series and the teeth'of the different series being spaced different distances apart.

18. A printing machine, including a bed, a set of body pattern printing platens each bearing a portion of a design and successively operable upon material passed ,Jthereunder, a set of border printing platens successively operable for printin different por- ,tions of a border design on said material, continuously operating driving means for the platens synchronized with, the intermittent feed of the material, detents selectively engageable with the platens to hold them inactive, and means for timing the operation of the detents to prevent body printin on a border space and vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven by the platen operating means, detent shifting means driven by the ratchet,-and means for varying the distance which the ratchet is turned at each feeding movement whereby to predetermine the number and timing of the printing or nonprinting operations of the platens, and

Bil

Hill

means for damping the feeding movement of V the ratchet.

19. A printing machine, including a bed, ,aset of body pattern printing platenseach bearing a portion of a design and successively operable upon material passed thereunder,

a set of border printing platens successively holding the platen inactive the platen inactive,

vice versa, including a ratchet wheel associated with each platen and intermittently driven by the ratchet, and means for varying the distance which the ratchet is turned at each feeding movement whereby to predeterminethe number and timing of the printing or nonprinting operations of the platens, the sets of detent shifting means for the body printing platen and border printing platens including reversely arranged cams driven by the ratchets. I

20.- The combination with a vertically reciprocable printing platen and a detent for on its printing stroke, of detent shifting means including a step by step mechanism, means for varying the speed thereof and a shifting cam driven from the step by step mechanism.

21. The combination with a vertically reciprocable platen and a detent for holding of detent shifting means including a ratchet wheel, means for inter mittently turning the ratchet wheel, means fer optionally predetermining the distance through which the ratchet wheel is turned at each step, a cam coupled to the ratchet wheel and operable to shift the detent upon each revolution of the ratchet wheel.

22. The combination with a vertically reciprocable platen and a detent for holding the platen inactive,

of detent shifting means including a ratchet wheel, means for intermittently turning the ratchet wheel, a cam coupled to the ratchet wheel and operable to shift the detent upon'each revolution of the ratchet wheel, and means for varying the distance through which the ratchet is fed whereby to selectively time the shifting cam.

23. The combination with a vertically'reciprocable platen, and a detent for holding the platen inactive, of detent shifting means including a ratchet wheel, a shifting cam pawl.

driven by the ratchet wheel, a pawl carrying arm' for intermittently turning the ratchet wheel and means for varying the effective length of the feeding stroke of the 24. ,The combination with a vertically recipi-ocable platen,

and a detent for holding of detent shifting means intermittently turning the ratchet wheel and means for varying the effective length adjustable over the periphery of the ratchet wheel to prevent engagementdfthe pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel during a portion of; its feeding stroke.

25. The-*combination with a vertically reciprocable laten, and a detent for holding 1 the platen mactive, of detent shifting means inslud 'g a ratch t h el, a shiit ag mm of the feeding stroke of the; .pawl ,said means including a cover plate driven by the ratchet wheel, a pawl carr mg arm for intermittently turning t e ratchet Wheel and means driven by the ratchet wheel, a pawl carry-i mg arm for intermittently turning the ratchet wheel and means forvarying the effective length ofthe pawl, said means including a cover plate adjustable over the periphery of the ratchet wheel to prevent engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel during a portion of its feeding stroke, and means .urglng the cover plate against the ratchet wheel to damp the movement thereof under the impetus ofthe pawl. 27. The combination with a vertically reciprocable platen and a detent for holding the platen inactive, of detentshifting means comprising a ratchet Wheel, a moving with the ratchet wheel, said ratchet wheel having a plurality of series of differently spaced teeth about its periphery, a reciprocatory pawl for feeding the ratchet" wheel, a guard plate for regulating the effective length of the feed stroke of the pawl whereby the pawl may engage with the successive teeth of any set to effect intermittent feed'of the ratche 28. The combination with a .vertically refor varying the effective length of the feeding stroke of the feeding stroke of the shifting cam ciprocable platen and a detent for holding the platen inactive, of detent shifting means cam movingwith the ratchet wheel, said lncluding a ratchet Wheel, a detent shifting ratchet wheel having a. plurality of series of dififerently spaced teeth A a reciprocatory pawl for feeding the ratchet wheel, aguard plate for regulating the effective length of the feed stroke of the pawl whereby the pawl may engage with about its periphery,

the successive teeth of any set to effect intion, and means forpredetermining t e distance which the ratchet wheel-1s moved at each step..

3.0. Detent Shifting means for a machine 12a repeatedly bring the cam' into shiftin Aposiof the class described, including a ratchet wheel and a shifting cam integral with a common hub and means for imparting step by step rotary movement to the ratchet wheel to repeatedly bring the cam into shifting position, said shifting means including an arm having reciprocatory rocking movement, a pawl on the arm for shifting the ratchet wheel, means for rendering a predetermined portion of the operative stroke cam, a reciprocatory pawl for actuating the ratchet wheel, and a cover plate adjustable over the periphery of the ratchet to render a portion ofthe feed stroke of the pawl ineffective.

32. Platen detent shifting means for a machine of the class described, including a shifting cam, a ratchet wheel driving the cam, a re'ciprocatorypawl for actuating the ratchet wheel, a cover plate adjustable over the periphery of the ratchet to render a portion of the feed stroke of the pawl inefl'ec-' tive, a notched locking plate, a latch on the cover plate engageable in the notches of the locking plate to retain the cover "plate in adjustedposition.

' 33. A device of the character described in claim 31 and wherein means are provided urging the cover plate against the ratchet wheel to exert a braking action thereon, and damping the movement of the ratchet caused by the pawl.

34. Platen detent'shifting mechanism for a machine of the class described includin in combination with the detent means tending to maintain the detent in one extreme position, means adapted to move the detent to the other extreme position including a cam, a ratchet wheel driving the cam, a reciprocated pawl for actuating the ratchet wheel and means for rendering idle a predetermined portion of the feed stroke of the pawl.

35. A device of the character described in claim 34, wherein an adjustable ratchet wheel cover predetermines the efiective feeding stroke of the pawl.

36. In detent shifting mechanism of the class described, a detent, aratchet wheel having a plurality of differently spaced series of notches in its periphery, one of said notches constituting a zero notch and being common to all of the series, a reciprocatory member engageable in the notches to intermittently drive the ratchet wheel and a guard member adjustable over the periphery of the Wheel to prevent engagement of the reciprocatory' member in thenotches during any desired portion of its feed stroke whereby said member may be caused to work in any of the series of notches to vary the feed of the ratchet, and operative connections between the ratchet and the detent.

37. Detent shifting means of the class de-- with a ratchet wheel having a plurality of difl'erently spaced series of notches in its periphery, one of said notches constituting a zero notch and being common to all of the series, certain of the other notches being common to a plurality of the series, means for rotating the ratchet wheel successively engageable in the notches of any predetermined series, and operative connections between the ratchet and the detent.

Signed at Kearny, in the county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, this 29th day of J uly, A. D. 1924.

. JAMES F. STURROCK. 

